#!@#^o!! Coach classic turnlock crossbody 17994

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#31
This purse looks really cute on you, I am sorry that the quality isn't what you were hoping for. I'm not sure if it is exactly the same as the classic "pocket purse" that I have (it looks similar, if not exactly the same), and I see them listed ALL THE TIME on eBay for very reasonable prices. Here are a few current examples (NMA, and not authenticated! just examples)

http://cgi.ebay.com/COACH-BLACK-LEA...303?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item415c239def

http://cgi.ebay.com/Authentic-Blk-L...389?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item4cf9154d8d

I have a classic pocket purse in black and I *love* it. I hope you find something that you are happy with!
 
#32
eyegirl2k7 said:
^Yup, I 've read that thread. In fact I am quite familiar with the search function.

The thread mentioned thinner leather. Okay, great. I was hoping for that since some of the original bags are quite heavy that it would be better for my shoulder problem. It doesn't even feel like leather but more like cheap plastic like on a fake leather jacket. I thought it would be thinner and a little cheaper looking but not worse than fakes I have seen.

The thread did not say how easy the bag is to scratch significantly.....scratches on every surface, especially one deep enough to go through the leather to whatever is below it. (it's brown in color). The bag arrived looking like it was ten years old. I have a great SA thankfully, and it will be damaged out. It is apparently the fourth black one to have come back.

Going to go back to searching for the "real" thing. Thanks:)
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I have seen and tried on four of the new vintage-style bags and understand what you mean about how the leather feels.

The variation in the new vs. the vintage leather can be partly attributed to the tanning process. The "old" bags are thicker, full grain leather and were processed using a full-time tanning method. This means that the hides are tumbled 16-24 hours in order for the dye to completely penetrate the leather.

Newer leather seems to be split in order for a hide to be used for more product out of one skin. Along with the thinner leather, companies have moved to a tumbling period that might be as short as two hours. This is only long enough to dye the outside of the hide, causing the natural colored hide to show through if the leather is scratched. If you were to cut into the leather, it would look like a sandwich of (for example) black "bread" and brown "filling". These are some of the biggest shortcuts that tanneries can and do take to get more product processed and out of the shop in a shorter amount of time.

The "lining" of the bag is actually suede, which is the natural back to full grain leather. The thickness of the leather along with the length it was tumbled for dying seems to affect how nice not only the "front" of the leather looks, but also how soft and uniform the "back" is.

I don't think that the new classics are anywhere as nice or good of quality as the real vintage and classic bags are, and feel that anyone could easily be disappointed with Coach's attempt to recreate these great bags with lesser-quality leather. Unfortunately, I'd know I would be preaching to the choir if I got started talking on that.

I hope I have helped and would love it if anyone has anything to add or amend.
 
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#34
Coffee&Coach said:
I have seen and tried on four of the new vintage-style bags and understand what you mean about how the leather feels.

The variation in the new vs. the vintage leather can be partly attributed to the tanning process. The "old" bags are thicker, full grain leather and were processed using a full-time tanning method. This means that the hides are tumbled 16-24 hours in order for the dye to completely penetrate the leather.

Newer leather seems to be split in order for a hide to be used for more product out of one skin. Along with the thinner leather, companies have moved to a tumbling period that might be as short as two hours. This is only long enough to dye the outside of the hide, causing the natural colored hide to show through if the leather is scratched. If you were to cut into the leather, it would look like a sandwich of (for example) black "bread" and brown "filling". These are some of the biggest shortcuts that tanneries can and do take to get more product processed and out of the shop in a shorter amount of time.

The "lining" of the bag is actually suede, which is the natural back to full grain leather. The thickness of the leather along with the length it was tumbled for dying seems to affect how nice not only the "front" of the leather looks, but also how soft and uniform the "back" is.

I don't think that the new classics are anywhere as nice or good of quality as the real vintage and classic bags are, and feel that anyone could easily be disappointed with Coach's attempt to recreate these great bags with lesser-quality leather. Unfortunately, I'd know I would be preaching to the choir if I got started talking on that.

I hope I have helped and would love it if anyone has anything to add or amend.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the excellent info, Coffee&Coach! This reminds me of an informative article (the link to which someone posted on the forum) that described how companies save costs by shortening dye tumbling time.

On a side note, it amazes me how many creeds for newer Coach items state that the item is made of the "finest materials and leather", including creeds for leather bags! The "leather" in this statement is secondary to the "material"? Really?

I love finding the bag made of "full grain leather" or "the finest full-grain leather" or "individually burnished glove-tanned cowhide" or "soft milled cowhide" according to its creed (each of these comes from the creeds of actual bags in my collection, including two MFF bags). I'd expect the full-grain leather bag to be generally more durable over time than the one for which leather is mentioned as a secondary component, but who knows. :sad:
 
#35
eyegirl2k7 said:
AAAAAAARGH.

Wow am I frustrated. I don't know what to do right now. I have really been wanting a classic Coach bag so I ordered one of the net-a-porter exclusives. It arrived today. It is very lightweight but the leather feels like plastic and is very thin. The lining is like a cheap suede, not the thick stuff it looks like in the pictures on the website. Not only that but it seems like every surface of the bag is lightly scratched. I tried to moisturize which helped some but of course if you turn the bag a certain way it looks scratched.

You have GOT to be kidding me. I am so sick of Coach bags that don't meet my expectations. I have never had a vintage bag so is it just typical that this leather would be so easy to scratch?

I am tempted to return it and I almost wish I had never opened the moisturizer. I WANT TO SCREAM!!!

:rant::rant::cursing::cursing::nono::nono::bagslap::
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The lining in the bag is just the other side of the leather that is the outside of the bag - the classic bags were just made out of the same leather that they make baseball gloves out of - I have quite a few of the original Coach bags and they did not start to line them until fairly recently - except for some of the original Bonnie Cashin bags. The leather is thicker on teh original bags, but at the same time the larger versions of the original bags can get quite heavy once you start putting things in them so the thinner leather is also to mitigate just how heavy some of the bagts can get. I see people on this website talking about the suede linings - but with unline Coach bags it is not a lining per se - it is just the reverse side of the leather that was used to make the bag that is why the originals get to drape after continual use. It is only a single layer of leather.
 
#36
happybag said:
Thanks for the excellent info, Coffee&Coach! This reminds me of an informative article (the link to which someone posted on the forum) that described how companies save costs by shortening dye tumbling time.

On a side note, it amazes me how many creeds for newer Coach items state that the item is made of the "finest materials and leather", including creeds for leather bags! The "leather" in this statement is secondary to the "material"? Really?

I love finding the bag made of "full grain leather" or "the finest full-grain leather" or "individually burnished glove-tanned cowhide" or "soft milled cowhide" according to its creed (each of these comes from the creeds of actual bags in my collection, including two MFF bags). I'd expect the full-grain leather bag to be generally more durable over time than the one for which leather is mentioned as a secondary component, but who knows. :sad:
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I agree with Coffee and Coach - but was surprised to see that some people are calling the inside of the bag the suede lining it is as she said just the other side of the leather that was used to make the bag. The original Coach bags were made of the same leather that they use for baseball gloves which is why it was fairly thick and lasted for a very long time. I have numerous of the original Coach bags and over time they get a great patina and also slouch nicely.
 
#37
gsmom said:
I know my opinion is in the minority, but if you put moisturizer on it, it's yours now.
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I understand what you are saying and I wouldn't want to buy a used bag as new; but I am not sure that I agree in this situation as long she hasn't actually carried the bag yet.

Several times, at both the outlet and the boutique store, when I have questioned or commented on a bag that looked scratched or slightly flawed; the first thing that all the SAs do (if they don't have another identical bag) is grab the Coach Conditioner and prepare to start slathering it on!

Once I had to stop the SA and say "Shouldn't we check the care card first?" When we read the care card it said "Do NOT use Coach conditioner!" but the SA said, "Oh, that doesn't matter we use it all the time on bags with slight marks!"

I remember one time at the Men's outlet, I was interested in buying a British Tan wallet but it was the last one and it was scratched up, so I asked if they had any others. That SA also went straight for the conditioner! I said "never mind, I will buy one of the mahogany wallets!"

So if it arrived scratched and all she did was try a little conditioner on it - and it didn't help much - I think it would be appropriate to take it back. The SAs will probably just condition it and then put it out for sale!
 
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